Scottish Executive

Community Care

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the funding of an additional 22,000 respite weeks announced by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 5 October 2000 will be additional to the £10 million allocated in 2000-01 for carers’ services including respite following the report Strategy for Carers in Scotland .

Malcolm Chisholm: Yes.

Community Care

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether carers’ needs are taken into account in the statutory performance indicator on assessment under which figures are required by the Accounts Commission from local authorities and when the first figures in relation to this performance indicator will be published.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is discussing with Audit Scotland how information on local authorities’ support for carers should be reflected in their statutory performance indicators. Local authorities have not previously recorded this information separately and they plan to start doing so as a result of the work of the Social Work Information Review which reported in 2000. Comprehensive figures are likely to be collected from April 2002, following a pilot survey starting later this year. Audit Scotland’s existing performance indicators already include information on people being assessed for, and receiving, respite services which gives an indication of the numbers of carers benefiting from short break services.

Environment

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and any other relevant bodies regarding the environmental consequences of any global warming leading to raised sea levels, with particular reference to the low-lying coastal locations of many nuclear facilities.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Executive has regular discussions with Her Majesty’s Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on a range of environmental issues including the impact of climate change. Active consideration is being given to the issue of rising of sea levels and the Executive is looking to commission a survey to identify those areas in Scotland that may be vulnerable to predicted increases in sea level. This exercise is not specific to coastal nuclear facilities, the owners of which have the primary responsibility to protect against flooding or erosion by the sea.

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the report of the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the eligibility criteria for access to infertility services will apply equally to all those requiring the service.

Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-13246 on 23 February 2001.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to learn from other countries’ sea fisheries conservation and recovery plans, in particular from those of Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Canada, and whether it has adopted, or has any plans to adopt, any such schemes.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive does study the sea fisheries and conservation recovery plans of other countries. Our scientists have frequent contacts with scientists from other countries, including those mentioned, and regularly investigate good practice in fisheries management.

  The Executive has been involved in the Canadian responsible fishing initiative, attending conferences at ministerial level in March 2000 and at official level in November 2000. I also plan to attend a conference on "sustainable utilisation of marine living resources" to be held in the Faroe Islands in June this year.

  The appropriate level of adoption for any such schemes, adapted for European conditions, would be at EU level as part of the review of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Fisheries

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the North Sea catches of industrial fishing boats were, by country and by tonnage, in each of the last five years and what progress is being made in limiting this activity.

Rhona Brankin: We have reached agreement with the Danes to examine the issue of industrial fishing with a view to reducing industrial species quotas and levels of by-catch.

  The table shows landings of industrial species in the North Sea, in tonnes, by EU country. Figures for other countries are not readily available. Figures for sand eels are not available, except for the UK, before 1998 when a Total Allowable Catch was introduced.

  





1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



North Sea sand eels 
  



Denmark 
  

n/a 
  

n/a 
  

509,403 
  

502,119 
  

485,849 
  



Netherlands 
  

n/a 
  

n/a 
  

0 
  

818 
  

1 
  



Sweden 
  

n/a 
  

n/a 
  

7,039 
  

23,555 
  

29,278 
  



UK 
  

9,659 
  

26,592 
  

23,082 
  

11,476 
  

10,759 
  



Total EU 
  

n/a 
  

n/a 
  

539,524 
  

537,968 
  

525,887 
  



North Sea Norway pout 
  



Denmark 
  

112,311 
  

101,555 
  

32,056 
  

35,463 
  

114,729 
  



Germany 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

2 
  



Netherlands 
  

5 
  

85 
  

2 
  

0 
  

4 
  



Sweden 
  

5 
  

0 
  

665 
  

0 
  

0 
  



UK 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Total EU 
  

112,321 
  

101,640 
  

32,723 
  

35,463 
  

114,735 
  



North Sea blue whiting 
  



Denmark 
  

2,983 
  

1,847 
  

9,999 
  

4,813 
  

5,448 
  



France 
  

0 
  

0 
  

4 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Germany 
  

0 
  

104 
  

78 
  

7 
  

22 
  



Netherlands 
  

1 
  

0 
  

23 
  

31 
  

76 
  



Sweden 
  

20 
  

18 
  

122 
  

93 
  

86 
  



UK 
  

1 
  

2,143 
  

310 
  

16 
  

867 
  



Total EU 
  

3,005 
  

4,112 
  

10,536 
  

4,960 
  

6,499

Flood Prevention

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any reduction in the total funds available to local authorities, from both the Executive and from non-housing capital provision, for flood prevention measures and what its budget for flood prevention is for the current financial year.

Mr Sam Galbraith: There has been no reduction in the funding made available to local authorities for flood prevention and coast protection, in fact there has been an increase.

  The Executive made provision of £4 million this financial year for major flood prevention and coast protection schemes. I have already announced that this will increase to £8.5 million, £9 million and £10 million over the next three years.

  The funds available to local authorities through the single non-housing capital allocation include provision for flood prevention. The Minister for Finance and Local Government has announced a single allocation of £321/£325/£360 million over the next three years. However, allocation of these resources for flood prevention measures and other services is entirely a matter for the local authorities, taking account of local needs and circumstances.

Health

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it plans to take to ensure the involvement in service design and delivery of those patient support groups at both local and national level whose expertise on chronic conditions was publicly acknowledged in Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change .

Susan Deacon: Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change commits the Scottish Executive and the NHS to take steps to work closely with patient support groups to ensure that the needs of those with chronic conditions are met effectively. This will be done through the "Partners in Change" programmes also announced in the plan. Detailed change programmes will be published later this year.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still the case that the Health Technology Board for Scotland will appraise and evaluate new drugs, as envisaged in the Scottish Office document Designed to Care .

Susan Deacon: The statutory remit of the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) is to provide advice to NHSScotland on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of new and existing health technologies, including medicines, devices, clinical procedures and health care settings. The HTBS will therefore appraise and evaluate a number of new drugs each year as part of its wider remit.

  When a new drug is marketed, the local Area Drug and Therapeutics Committees (ADTCs) have the role of providing advice to prescribers and health boards about whether or not the new medicine (or new therapeutic indication) should be adopted into practice. HTBS will support the ADTCs assessment work by sharing expertise in assessment methodologies and seeking ways to promote consistency among the committees.

  Additionally, in recognition of the needs and expectations of decision-makers in Scotland, from spring 2001 HTBS will provide a Scottish interpretation of all NICE guidance on appraisals, which includes many new drugs.

Medical Research

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on research into the treatment of and possible cures for (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) myalgic encephalomyelitis in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99 and (iii) 1999-2000 and how much is expected to be spent in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Susan Deacon: Details of expenditure on all research into the treatment and possible cures for multiple sclerosis (MS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) are not held centrally.

  Within the Scottish Executive Health Department, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within the NHS in Scotland and, as such, is the main departmental funder of NHS-related research. CSO had no expenditure on MS and ME research projects in 1997-98, 1998-99, and will have none in 2000-01. Nearly £7,000 was spent by CSO on ME projects in 1999-2000 but there was no expenditure on MS.

  With regard to projected expenditure on MS and ME in 2001-02, CSO is not currently funding, and has no plans to promote or commission, research projects on either of these conditions. However, CSO would be pleased to consider funding proposals for innovative MS and ME studies of a sufficiently high standard.

  CSO is aware of 162 ongoing or recently completed ME research projects in the UK, (17 of which are or were in Scotland) and 254 ongoing or recently completed MS research projects (15 of which are or were in Scotland). The projects’ details are available from the National Research Register (NRR), a copy of which is in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. The results of these research projects will inform the future direction of research and treatment in this area.

Medical Training

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists regarding making assistance available towards course fees for continuing professional development.

Susan Deacon: Continuing professional development for all staff in the NHS in Scotland is the responsibility of the employer.

  A Project Development Group has been established in partnership and under the banner of Learning Together, focusing on continuing development for all staff and is looking at ways in which training budgets in the NHSScotland can be used more effectively to meet the training and professional development needs of all staff.

Rates

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from interested organisations on the level of business rates.

Peter Peacock: The Executive has discussed business rates with representatives of the following bodies; in some cases separately or as part of meetings with business representative groups:

  British Hospitality Association;

  Confederation of British Industry, Scotland;

  Chemical Industries Association;

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities;

  Forum of Private Business;

  Federation of Small Businesses, Scotland;

  Institute of Directors;

  Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland;

  Scottish Assessors’ Association;

  Scottish Chambers of Commerce;

  Scottish Council Development and Industry;

  Scottish Licensed Trade Association;

  Scottish Retail Consortium;

  Scottish Tourism Forum;

  Scottish Valuation and Rating Council;

  Scottish Wholesalers’ Association.

Residential Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) nursing home and (b) residential home places have been lost in each of the last three years, both nationally and broken down by local authority.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on places lost in private nursing homes and residential care homes is not available centrally.

  However, a census of bed complement is carried out as part of an annual return for each private nursing home and registered residential care home. Table 1 shows the number of places available in residential care homes.

  Table 1: Residential Care Homes – Places (Older People Only)

  


Local Authority 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

686 
  

691 
  

675 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

620 
  

675 
  

655 
  



Angus 
  

606 
  

593 
  

535 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

701 
  

612 
  

557 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

83 
  

83 
  

83 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

650 
  

716 
  

818 
  



Dundee City 
  

628 
  

507 
  

481 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

368 
  

479 
  

432 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

187 
  

138 
  

118 
  



East Lothian 
  

332 
  

324 
  

268 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

201 
  

206 
  

200 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

1,403 
  

1,361 
  

1,289 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

192 
  

195 
  

201 
  



Falkirk 
  

313 
  

284 
  

284 
  



Fife 
  

1,008 
  

958 
  

964 
  



Glasgow City 
  

1,915 
  

1,918 
  

1,783 
  



Highland Council, The 
  

1,088 
  

975 
  

937 
  



Inverclyde 
  

313 
  

316 
  

270 
  



Midlothian 
  

279 
  

269 
  

278 
  



Moray Council, The 
  

271 
  

272 
  

257 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

389 
  

393 
  

418 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

604 
  

567 
  

556 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

101 
  

104 
  

106 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

722 
  

755 
  

704 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

433 
  

439 
  

455 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

460 
  

459 
  

442 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

139 
  

144 
  

135 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

337 
  

294 
  

293 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

711 
  

673 
  

849 
  



Stirling 
  

407 
  

361 
  

305 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

264 
  

275 
  

271 
  



West Lothian 
  

266 
  

264 
  

232 
  



Scotland 
  

16,677 
  

16,300 
  

15,851 
  



  Source: SEHD Social Work Statistics.

  Table 2 shows the bed complement at 31 March in 1998, 1999 and 2000, split by local council area.

  Table 2: Number of beds in Private Nursing Homes1 in Scotland2, 3 as at 31 March 1998-2000, by Local Council Area

  

 

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Local Authority 
  

Number of beds 
  

Number of beds 
  

Number of beds 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

777 
  

1,019 
  

910 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

1,126 
  

1,227 
  

1,333 
  



Angus 
  

542 
  

561 
  

536 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

268 
  

265 
  

211 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

100 
  

60 
  

120 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

584 
  

604 
  

532 
  



Dundee City 
  

720 
  

593 
  

654 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

724 
  

597 
  

639 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

335 
  

355 
  

343 
  



East Lothian 
  

497 
  

431 
  

497 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

434 
  

459 
  

357 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

2,109 
  

2,147 
  

2,031 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

65 
  

65 
  

65 
  



Falkirk 
  

557 
  

557 
  

579 
  



Fife 
  

1,362 
  

1,424 
  

1,376 
  



Glasgow City 
  

2,933 
  

2,926 
  

2,794 
  



Highland 
  

1,354 
  

1,155 
  

1,086 
  



Inverclyde 
  

358 
  

295 
  

302 
  



Midlothian 
  

355 
  

242 
  

355 
  



Moray 
  

285 
  

305 
  

305 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

888 
  

863 
  

848 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

1,160 
  

1,167 
  

1,285 
  



Orkney 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

870 
  

816 
  

766 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

797 
  

816 
  

614 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

633 
  

652 
  

604 
  



Shetland 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

796 
  

739 
  

777 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

1,745 
  

1,569 
  

1,622 
  



Stirling 
  

607 
  

598 
  

576 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

292 
  

356 
  

146 
  



West Lothian 
  

565 
  

617 
  

687 
  



Scotland 
  

23,838 
  

23,480 
  

22,950 
  



  Source: ISD Scotland, ISD(S)34.

  Ref.: HCIU 2001/0157.

  Notes:

  1. Private Nursing Homes subject to the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 (as amended) or the Mental Health Act 1960/1984. Also includes a few "other" establishments, e.g. hospices, which are registered under the Act. Private hospitals registered under the Act are excluded from this table.

  2. The figures shown are based on information supplied by nursing homes at the end of each financial year. It is understood from health boards that a small number of other nursing homes in Scotland have been unable to provide the information requested. Data from these nursing homes are not included in the table and account for approximately 30 homes at 31 March 1999 and 2000 and approx. 15 homes at 31 March 1998. The bed complements of these homes are not known and may explain the fluctuation in bed numbers and residents over the four-year period.

  3. The figures represent a "snap shot" on 31 March each year and do not necessarily reflect the position between the censuses or at present.

Residential Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) private residential homes, (b) private nursing homes and (c) local authority residential homes have been closed in each of the last three years, both nationally and by local authority.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on closures of private nursing homes and residential care homes is not available centrally.

  However, a census is carried out annually for each private nursing home and registered residential care home. Table 1 shows the number of residential care homes in each of the three years.

  Table 1: Residential Care Homes - Numbers of (Older People Only)

  





1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Local Authority Area 
  

Local Authority 
  

Private 
  

Voluntary 
  

All 
  

Local Authority 
  

Private 
  

Voluntary 
  

All 
  

Local Authority 
  

Private 
  

Voluntary 
  

All 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

10 
  

2 
  

9 
  

21 
  

10 
  

2 
  

9 
  

21 
  

9 
  

3 
  

9 
  

21 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

14 
  

8 
  

7 
  

29 
  

12 
  

10 
  

7 
  

29 
  

13 
  

10 
  

6 
  

29 
  



Angus 
  

6 
  

19 
  

2 
  

27 
  

6 
  

19 
  

2 
  

27 
  

4 
  

19 
  

2 
  

25 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

7 
  

22 
  

4 
  

33 
  

7 
  

20 
  

4 
  

31 
  

7 
  

17 
  

4 
  

28 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  

3 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  

3 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  

3 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

11 
  

16 
  

5 
  

32 
  

0 
  

22 
  

12 
  

34 
  

0 
  

21 
  

12 
  

33 
  



Dundee City 
  

9 
  

8 
  

5 
  

22 
  

6 
  

7 
  

5 
  

18 
  

6 
  

7 
  

5 
  

18 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

4 
  

9 
  

2 
  

15 
  

4 
  

12 
  

2 
  

18 
  

4 
  

12 
  

2 
  

18 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

1 
  

3 
  

2 
  

6 
  

1 
  

3 
  

1 
  

5 
  

0 
  

3 
  

1 
  

4 
  



East Lothian 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

12 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

12 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  

9 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

1 
  

2 
  

4 
  

7 
  

1 
  

2 
  

4 
  

7 
  

1 
  

2 
  

4 
  

7 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

14 
  

13 
  

23 
  

50 
  

14 
  

12 
  

22 
  

48 
  

14 
  

9 
  

18 
  

41 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

14 
  

1 
  

1 
  

16 
  

15 
  

1 
  

1 
  

17 
  

15 
  

1 
  

1 
  

17 
  



Falkirk 
  

7 
  

5 
  

3 
  

15 
  

6 
  

4 
  

3 
  

13 
  

6 
  

3 
  

3 
  

12 
  



Fife 
  

12 
  

22 
  

11 
  

45 
  

12 
  

20 
  

10 
  

42 
  

11 
  

20 
  

9 
  

40 
  



Glasgow City 
  

23 
  

15 
  

20 
  

58 
  

23 
  

15 
  

20 
  

58 
  

23 
  

13 
  

19 
  

55 
  



Highland Council, The 
  

18 
  

31 
  

11 
  

60 
  

18 
  

29 
  

10 
  

57 
  

19 
  

29 
  

8 
  

56 
  



Inverclyde 
  

2 
  

4 
  

7 
  

13 
  

2 
  

4 
  

6 
  

12 
  

3 
  

3 
  

4 
  

10 
  



Midlothian 
  

3 
  

3 
  

2 
  

8 
  

3 
  

3 
  

2 
  

8 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  

9 
  



Moray Council, The 
  

6 
  

4 
  

1 
  

11 
  

6 
  

4 
  

1 
  

11 
  

5 
  

4 
  

1 
  

10 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

6 
  

13 
  

2 
  

21 
  

6 
  

12 
  

2 
  

20 
  

6 
  

13 
  

3 
  

22 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

11 
  

11 
  

1 
  

23 
  

10 
  

9 
  

1 
  

20 
  

10 
  

8 
  

1 
  

19 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

2 
  

3 
  

0 
  

5 
  

2 
  

3 
  

0 
  

5 
  

2 
  

3 
  

0 
  

5 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

4 
  

18 
  

8 
  

30 
  

3 
  

19 
  

8 
  

30 
  

3 
  

18 
  

8 
  

29 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

6 
  

7 
  

2 
  

15 
  

6 
  

6 
  

2 
  

14 
  

6 
  

6 
  

3 
  

15 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

6 
  

7 
  

5 
  

18 
  

6 
  

8 
  

4 
  

18 
  

6 
  

8 
  

4 
  

18 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

4 
  

0 
  

5 
  

9 
  

4 
  

0 
  

5 
  

9 
  

3 
  

0 
  

6 
  

9 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

5 
  

5 
  

5 
  

15 
  

5 
  

5 
  

3 
  

13 
  

5 
  

4 
  

3 
  

12 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

10 
  

8 
  

7 
  

25 
  

8 
  

11 
  

5 
  

24 
  

8 
  

10 
  

6 
  

24 
  



Stirling 
  

4 
  

6 
  

7 
  

17 
  

4 
  

5 
  

6 
  

15 
  

4 
  

5 
  

5 
  

14 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

7 
  

2 
  

1 
  

10 
  

7 
  

2 
  

1 
  

10 
  

7 
  

2 
  

1 
  

10 
  



West Lothian 
  

6 
  

2 
  

2 
  

10 
  

6 
  

2 
  

2 
  

10 
  

5 
  

2 
  

2 
  

9 
  



Scotland 
  

239 
  

273 
  

169 
  

681 
  

219 
  

275 
  

165 
  

659 
  

213 
  

261 
  

157 
  

631 
  



  Source: SEHD Social Work Statistics.

  Table 2 shows the number of homes in each of the three years.

  Table 2: Number of Private Nursing Homes1 in Scotland 2,3 at 31 March 1998–2000 by Local Council Area

  





1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

15 
  

20 
  

18 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

30 
  

32 
  

33 
  



Angus 
  

11 
  

12 
  

12 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

11 
  

11 
  

9 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

2 
  

1 
  

2 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

16 
  

15 
  

14 
  



Dundee City 
  

17 
  

15 
  

16 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

19 
  

16 
  

17 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

5 
  

7 
  

7 
  



East Lothian 
  

12 
  

10 
  

12 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

10 
  

11 
  

8 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

46 
  

46 
  

44 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

2 
  

2 
  

2 
  



Falkirk 
  

10 
  

10 
  

10 
  



Fife 
  

29 
  

32 
  

32 
  



Glasgow City 
  

54 
  

52 
  

47 
  



Highland 
  

34 
  

29 
  

30 
  



Inverclyde 
  

9 
  

7 
  

8 
  



Midlothian 
  

7 
  

6 
  

7 
  



Moray 
  

7 
  

8 
  

8 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

16 
  

16 
  

15 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

22 
  

22 
  

24 
  



Orkney 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

21 
  

21 
  

20 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

12 
  

11 
  

12 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

16 
  

17 
  

16 
  



Shetland 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

22 
  

20 
  

22 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

38 
  

32 
  

34 
  



Stirling 
  

12 
  

12 
  

11 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

4 
  

5 
  

3 
  



West Lothian 
  

9 
  

10 
  

12 
  



Scotland 
  

518 
  

508 
  

505 
  



  Source: ISD Scotland, ISD(S)34.

  Ref.: HCIU 2001/0157.

  Notes:

  1. Private nursing homes subject to the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 (as amended) or the Mental Health Act 1960/1984. Also includes a few "other" establishments, e.g. hospices, which are registered under the Act. Private hospitals registered under the Act are excluded from this table.

  2. The figures shown are based on information supplied by nursing homes at the end of each financial year. It is understood from health boards that a small number of other nursing homes in Scotland have been unable to provide the information requested. Data from these nursing homes are not included in the table and account for approximately 30 homes at 31 March 1999 and 2000 and approximately 15 homes at 31 March 1998. The bed complements of these homes are not known and may explain the fluctuation in bed numbers over the four-year period.

  3. The figures represent a "snap shot" on 31 March each year and do not necessarily reflect the position between the censuses or at present.

Road Safety

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12766 by Sarah Boyack on 7 February 2001, what comparisons were made with other roads, in terms of the number and seriousness of accidents, before the alterations currently being made to the A78 at the junction with Beachway in Largs were given the go-ahead.

Sarah Boyack: The accident record on this section of trunk road was compared with the accident record over the complete trunk road network. Where localised sites are shown to have accidents arising from a common cause, accident reduction measures are implemented to address the particular problems identified.

  The decision to progress accident reduction schemes is based on the first year rate of return. The schemes with the highest rate of return are progressed first.

Road Safety

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12766 by Sarah Boyack on 7 February 2001, what analysis has been undertaken to ascertain the degree of delays on the A78 that the alterations currently being made at the A78 at the junction with Beachway in Largs will cause.

Sarah Boyack: The works are minor in nature and relate to safety issues. No analysis of delays has been carried out. The effectiveness of the works will be closely monitored over the next few months and if there are unacceptable delays to trunk road traffic adjustments to the works will be considered.

Road Safety

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12766 by Sarah Boyack on 7 February 2001, what consultation was undertaken, and with whom, before the re-location of a bus stop on the A78 in Largs near to its junction with Beachway and in what ways this change will improve pedestrian safety.

Sarah Boyack: The Police and Strathclyde Passenger Transport were consulted on the re-location of the bus stop. The new location will encourage pedestrians to cross to the bus stop away from the junction where vehicle turning movements can conflict with pedestrian movements.

Road Safety

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12766 by Sarah Boyack on 7 February 2001, whether the alterations currently being made at the A78’s junction with Beachway in Largs have ever been described by it, or by North Ayrshire Council in any submissions to the Executive on this matter, as traffic calming measures.

Sarah Boyack: No. These works are described as Accident Investigation and Prevention measures.

Road Safety

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12766 by Sarah Boyack on 7 February 2001, whether any detailed cost-benefit analysis specific to the alterations currently being made at the junction of the A78 and Beachway in Largs was carried out prior to the alterations taking place.

Sarah Boyack: In all Accident Investigation and Prevention schemes it is standard practice to measure savings in terms of predicted reductions in injury accidents in the first year. These savings are then compared against the estimated cost of implementing the works.

Road Safety

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways the objectives of traffic calming initiatives and road safety initiatives differ.

Sarah Boyack: Traffic calming is generally provided over the whole length of a route through a town or village to improve safety and minimise the effect of through traffic on the environment. Traffic calming schemes often involve a diverse range of measures including signing, changes to the road alignment and road texture and measures to control traffic speeds.

  Accident Investigation and Prevention measures are implemented to address particular safety issues at specific locations on the road network.

Scottish Executive Nursery Facilities

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the contract for running the nursery facilities at Victoria Quay has recently been out to tender; if so, why; which companies were invited to tender, and which companies lodged tenders.

Angus MacKay: The current contract for the provision of nursery services at Victoria Quay expires on 28 February 2001. Advertisements were placed in Nursery World and Government Opportunities on 9 June 2000 calling for expressions of interest in tendering for the requirement. Eleven expressions of interest were received. Eleven Invitations to Tender were issued and six completed tenders were received.

  Following detailed evaluation the new contract has been awarded to Kinderquest. It would be inappropriate to disclose which companies tendered but were not successful in winning the contract. Debriefs were offered to the unsuccessful tenderers.

Scottish Executive Nursery Facilities

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children attended the nursery facilities at Victoria Quay in each month since January 1997.

Angus Mackay: The Scottish Executive does not require the contractor to provide monthly attendance details. We do however hold information on occupancy rates. This information is retained centrally for only six months. The occupancy rates are as follows:

  August 2000 – 74.4%

  September 2000 – 75.5%

  October 2000 – 78.0%

  November 2000 – 80.8%

  December 2000 – 80.8%

  January 2001 – 80.8%

  The February 2001 figures are not yet available.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what public money has been expended on the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit project in addition to the Transport Challenge Fund project allocations in 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of these costs.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive’s expenditure on the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit (CERT) project is limited to the Transport Challenge Fund allocation to City of Edinburgh Council and the public local enquiry costs referred to in my answer to question S1W-12851. Any further expenditure on CERT is a matter for City of Edinburgh Council.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the estimated costs to it in respect of planning applications, appeals and inquiries in relation to the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit project, taking into account both costs directly incurred and the use of staff resources.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has received two planning appeals relating to the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit proposal. The Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit incurred costs totalling some £8,200 in holding a public local inquiry, as requested by the parties, to consider the proposed realignment of the CERT route between Balgreen Road and Roseburn Street. This figure includes both the Reporter’s costs and other administrative expenses.

  No costs of significance have yet been incurred in respect of the other appeal by BAA for realignment of the CERT route, upgrading of roads and relocation of a park and ride site at Ingliston. Processing of this appeal has been suspended at the request of the appellant.

The following questions were given holding answers

Question Numbers

  S1W-13259

  S1W-13260

  S1W-13261

  S1W-13263

  S1W-13265

  S1W-13266

  S1W-13268

  S1W-13272

  S1W-13280

  S1W-13281

  S1W-13282

  S1W-13283

  S1W-13284

  S1W-13285

  S1W-13286

  S1W-13287

  S1W-13288

  S1W-13295

  S1W-13699